Belk looks to lure Black Friday shoppers with free gift cards

Charlotte, N.C. - Regional department store chain Belk said it plans to offer $1 million worth of store gift cards to help draw in traffic and stir sales on Black Friday.

The retailer will be opening each of its 303 stores in 16 Southern states at 3 a.m. on this holiday shopping kick-off day - the day after Thanksgiving. Belk will give away a minimum of 250 Belk gift cards to the first customers through the doors.

The cards awarded in each location will range in value from $5 to $1,000 and can be redeemed for purchases in any Belk store, but not on Belk.com. Customers receiving the gift cards must be 18 years old or older.

Belk stores will close at 10 p.m. on Black Friday.

Kathryn Bufano, president and chief merchandising officer, said Belk wants to "show our appreciation to customers in a big way by giving away $1 million in Belk Gift Cards to those who come early to help us kick off the sale."

She added, "we guarantee that every store will have a $1,000 Belk Gift Card winner."

The Belk After-Thanksgiving Sale will feature more than 285 "Early Bird" specials available in stores while supplies last from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m., along with hundreds of other great buys offered throughout the day.

Customers can also purchase Belk's "Early Bird" specials and other sale items online at Belk.com starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

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